SWANSBORO – Investigators have released additional information regarding an Oct. 31 car fire outside a Swansboro school that has been ruled arson.

Police are searching for a light-colored pickup truck in connection with the fire that destroyed a 2005 Dodge Stratus owned by Onslow County Schools. The fire occurred about 2:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Swansboro Elementary School.

Swansboro Public Safety Director Bob Ritchie said a motion-activated surveillance camera mounted on the school shows a light-colored pickup truck of standard cab size, coming and going from the scene of the fire. He said there is a four-minute lapse during which the truck was apparently parked and the camera shut off.

“We can see the truck arrive, we lose four minutes and we see the truck leaving,” Ritchie said.

Ritchie said they are working to enhance the video footage but the quality of the film is poor and they were not able to get a tag number off the vehicle or see into the cab to get an identity of the driver or tell if there was more than one occupant.

“We’re hoping someone will recognize the truck or know something about the fire,” Ritchie said.

Onslow County Fire Marshal Brian Kelly said the fire was intentionally set but they don’t know a motive.

The fire started in the back seat but he said they don’t want to jeopardize the investigation by releasing details of how the fire may have been started.

Kelly said it doesn’t appear it was a theft because contents in the car, including a laptop computer, were still inside.

No one was injured and insurance will pick up some of the costs to replace the car, but Kelly said losses remain and finding out who started the fire and why is important.

“We don’t know what the thought process was. We want to stop this before it gets worse,” he said.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the Swansboro Police Department at 910-326-5151.

They can also call Crime Stoppers at 910-938-3273. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards of up to $2,500 for information leading to arrest. Callers are not required to reveal their identities.